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2006-7
Integrated Pest
Management Policy
1.
Statement of Goals
It is the
goal of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to eliminate the use of
pesticides on County property. In establishing this policy, it is acknowledged
that this is a long-term goal which cannot be achieved instantaneously. It is
also acknowledged that, even after dedicated review
and exploration of all available options, it may not be possible to completely
eliminate all pesticide use on County property. However, in those situations
where pesticides cannot be completely eliminated, it is the Board’s intention
that the quantity and the risk level of pesticides which are used be reduced to
the maximum degree possible. The Board of Supervisors further establishes the following:
a.
The County shall reduce its use of pesticides through the
development and implementation of a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management
Policy.
b.
Effective July 1, 2001, and except for pesticides granted an
exemption pursuant to Section 2 below, the following pesticides shall not be
applied to County property:
i.
EPA Toxicity Category I pesticides,
ii.
Pesticides which contain chemicals identified by the State
of California as known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity pursuant to the
California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, or
iii.
Pesticides classified as proven human carcinogens by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency.
c.
Effective January 1, 2003, and except for pesticides granted
an exemption pursuant to Section 2 below, County departments shall not apply
EPA Toxicity Category II pesticides on County property.
d.
When pesticides are used on county property, County
departments will follow the Integrated Pest Management Guidelines established
below.
e.
Contractors applying
pesticides to County property shall comply with the terms of this policy.
f.
Effective
2. Exemptions:
a.
Departments may apply for exemptions to the restrictions
imposed by this policy by providing a written request to the Integrated Pest Management Coordinator
addressing the required exemption criteria. The IPM Coordinator will review the
request and prepare a staff report and recommendation for consideration by the
Integrated Pest Management Departmental Advisory Group (IPM DAG). The IPM DAG
will review the request and recommendation at a public meeting and will issue a
decision. Exemption requests and their final dispositions will be reported in
the annual reports to the Board of Supervisors.
b.
Exemption criteria include the following:
i.
Documentation of attempts to find alternatives to the
proposed pesticide usage
ii.
Identification of a specific legal, public health, or safety
consideration
iii.
A specified time frame for the proposed exemption
iv.
A requirement for continued evaluation of alternatives
during the exemption period.
c.
It is the intent of the Board that this policy be followed
to the fullest extent possible, however, the policy is
not intended to prohibit the application of any pesticides which are required
by state or federal law.
d.
Pesticides used
by the Santa Cruz County Mosquito Abatement District are exempt from
restrictions imposed by this policy but shall be reviewed as part of the
Integrated Pest Management program to ensure that every effort is being made to
use the least toxic pesticides available for this purpose.
e.
The following pesticides are exempt from restrictions
imposed by this policy
i.
Antimicrobials used to protect public health and safety are exempt from prohibitions imposed by this policy.
This exemption shall be reviewed annually, and departments using antimicrobials
shall develop written protocols and criteria for the use of these agents.
ii.
Category I pesticides used to control burrowing
rodents on the Pajaro and Salsipuedes levees and on athletic fields are exempt
from prohibitions imposed by this policy until 5.
iii.
The Redevelopment Agency shall have a limited
exemption for the use of the Category II pesticide Sheperd to
prevent anthracnose, a fungus disease. A total amount of less than once ounce may be
injected once into
3. Evaluation
b.
The Integrated Pest Management Coordinator in conjunction
with County departments shall annually evaluate progress towards achieving the
goals adopted by the Board of Supervisors
c.
The Integrated Pest Management Coordinator will include an
evaluation of progress towards achieving the goals in the annual report.
4.
Public Involvement
a.
The Integrated Pest Management Coordinator will convene one
public meeting each year in April to review the County’s IPM program and
pesticide use.
b.
The IPM Coordinator will convene an Integrated Pest
Management Departmental Advisory Group (IPM DAG).
i.
The Integrated Pest Management Departmental Advisory Group
will work with the IPM Coordinator to review the effectiveness of the IPM
policy and program and make recommendations to the County Administrative
Officer.
ii.
The Integrated Pest Management Departmental Advisory Group
will include representatives from involved County departments, public health
professionals, the Agricultural Commissioner, a representative from Caltrans,
and members of the community.
5.
Reports to Board of Supervisors
a.
The Integrated Pest Management Coordinator will provide an
annual report to the Board of Supervisors in June of each year.
b.
The annual report will include the following:
i.
Any recommended modifications to the Integrated Pest
Management Policy
ii.
Recommended exemptions to the Integrated Pest Management
Policy
iii.
Recommendations for increased staff and materials, if
needed, to implement the Integrated Pest
Management Policy
iv.
A comparison of the
types and amounts of pesticides used annually by County departments
v.
A measure of progress towards achieving the goals established
by the Board of Supervisors
6.
Integrated
For all
pest problems on County property, County departments will utilize the following
IPM guidelines:
a.
Perform thorough in-field assessments of each pest problems
b.
Use pest resistant plants and planting systems that minimize
pest infestations
c.
Establish injury levels and action thresholds for each
individual pest species based on how much biological, aesthetic or economic
damage the site can tolerate to determine when corrective action must be
initiated.
d.
Establish scouting or inspection procedures to monitor pest
population levels and severity of the pest problem.
e.
Select corrective actions using the following criteria:
i.
least disruptive of natural controls
ii.
least hazardous to human health
iii.
least toxic to non-target organisms
iv.
least damaging to the general environment
v.
most likely to produce permanent reduction of the pest
vi.
easiest to carry out effectively
vii.
most cost-effective in the short- and long-term
f.
Modify pest ecosystems to reduce food and living space
through physical and cultural practices and the use of biological pest
controls.
g.
Maintain an accurate record-keeping system to catalogue the
following:
i.
the identification of the pest
ii.
the size or density of the pest infestation
iii.
the geographic distribution of the pest problem
iv.
complete information on how you treated the pest, including
what, how much, where, when, who, cost, and any application difficulties
v.
the effectiveness of treatment of solving the problem
vi.
any observable side effects of the treatment on nontarget
organisms
vii.
any comments from residents
h.
Recommended
modifications to these guidelines may be submitted to the Board for
consideration in the annual IPM reports.
7.
Guidelines for Antimicrobial Usage
The
following guidelines will be used by all County departments except where more
stringent federal or state requirements are mandated
Disinfectants
will be used primarily in restrooms within County facilities. Disinfectants may
also be used in other locations where there is clear evidence that disinfectant
is needed.
a.
Routinely disinfected
i.
Toilets, including walls and tile within the stall and
fixtures
ii.
Urinals and surrounding walls and partitions
iii.
Sinks, including fixtures, pipes, and surrounding walls
iv.
All tiles in the restrooms and floors
v.
Paper towel dispensers, garbage containers and other wall
mounted fixtures
b.
Not routinely disinfected
i.
Mirrors and windows
ii.
Ceilings
iii.
Doorknobs in locations other than restrooms
c.
Protocols
i.
Follow the label (the label is the LAW)
ii.
Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when required
iii.
Accurately dilute product according to the label
iv.
Allow product contact time as specified on the label
d.
Procedures
i.
Spray all fixtures, including pipes and faucets with an
approved detergent disinfectant mixed or diluted according to the label. Allow
product contact time as specified on label (usually 10 minutes contact time).
ii.
Use a damp rag to thoroughly wipe fixtures and pipes or a
clean cloth
iii.
Always use PPE when handling chemicals or diluting (refer to
label or MSDS)
iv.
Always dilute product to proper ratios according to the
label
8.
Notification of Pesticide Use
County
departments applying Toxicity Category I, II, or III pesticides shall comply
with the following notification procedures:
a.
Signs shall be posted the day before the application of the
pesticide and will remain posted at least four days after the application of
the pesticide.
b.
Posting shall only be required in areas where the public can
reasonably be expected to frequent and as near as possible to the site of the application.
c.
Signs shall be posted at every entry point where the
pesticide is applied if it is applied in an enclosed area, and in highly
visible locations around the perimeter of the area where the pesticide is
applied if the pesticide is applied in an open area.
d.
Signs shall be of a design that is easily recognizable to
the public and workers.
e.
Signs shall contain the name and active ingredient of the
pesticide, the target pest, the date of pesticide use, the signal word
indicating the toxicity category of the pesticide, the date for re-entry if
required, and the name and contact number of the County department responsible
for the application.
f.
County Departments shall not be required to post signs in
right-of-way locations that the general public does not use for recreation
purposes. However, each department that
uses pesticides in such right-of-way locations shall develop and maintain a
public access telephone number which will provide the information required in
Section VII. E. Information shall be available from this telephone number on
any pesticides which will be applied within the next four days or that have
been applied within the last four days.
g.
County Departments using pesticidal baits shall not be
required to post notification signs. However, each department using pesticidal
baits shall post a permanent sign at the facility where the baits are used. The
sign shall indicate the type of baits used in the area, the target pests, the
area or areas where the baits are commonly placed, and the contact number of
the department responsible for the bait application.
h.
Recommended modifications to these notification procedures
may be submitted to the Board for consideration in the annual IPM reports.
9.
Training
In
addition to all training mandated by State and federal regulations, County
departments will provide training in the following areas to staff who are
responsible for applying pesticides or who supervise staff
who apply pesticides:
a.
Principles of
Integrated
b.
Toxicology of commonly used pesticides
c.
General introduction to the evaluation of alternative
strategic control options
d.
Monitoring protocols for different pest problems, including
record keeping
e.
General introduction to identification of plant diseases and
common pest problems procedures for developing site-specific IPM implementation
plans
f.
Recommended modifications to these training procedures may
be submitted to the Board for consideration in the annual IPM reports.
10. Early Stage Design Consultation with IPM
Coordinator
County departments shall consult
with the IPM Coordinator when they begin planning projects involving the installation of vegetation or other features that
have pest management implications. The
IPM Coordinator shall consult the full IPM DAG when appropriate and
feasible. The IPM Coordinator shall analyze
the proposed actions and make recommendations as needed for
alternatives that would reduce the need for pesticides.